Early in the morning, Jiang Luo was awakened and dressed in clothes the maids had prepared. He was to return to his family with Chi You.
As they reached the front gate, they heard screams echoing from the rear courtyard one after another. Jiang Luo turned to look—servants and maids were rushing toward the back, faces pale and frantic.
Something had clearly happened.
A carriage was parked at the gate. An old woman smiled and said, “Young Master Jiang, please board.”
Jiang Luo turned back, lowered his head, and stepped into the carriage.
The Jiang residence wasn’t far from the Chi residence. Before long, they had arrived. Chi You closed the book he was reading and got off the carriage after Jiang Luo. He looked at Jiang Luo’s back, deep in thought.
On the way there, Jiang Luo didn’t say a single word. He truly felt no joy about returning home—in fact, there was a faint sense of rejection within him.
If he could adapt so well to a quagmire like the Chi family and live each day with such vigor, could the Jiang family really be worse than the Chi family?
One had to admit, Chi You’s rarely seen curiosity had now been thoroughly piqued by Jiang Luo.
According to local wedding customs, on the third day after the wedding, the bride would bring her husband back to her parents’ home so the family could see how married life was going. But when the Chi family’s servant knocked on the door, the person who opened it looked half-asleep. Upon seeing Jiang Luo, they froze in shock and stammered, “Y-Young Master?”
It was as if they hadn’t expected Jiang Luo to return at all.
Very soon, the Jiang family realized that their young master had brought the legitimate young master of the Chi family back with him. The entire household erupted into chaos.
Jiang Luo and Chi You were brought to the reception hall, where a maid hurriedly served freshly brewed tea. Just as the tea leaves swirled in the cups, Jiang Luo’s father, Jiang Pingcheng, showed up in disheveled clothing.
Jiang Pingcheng gave an awkward smile and rubbed his hands together. “What brings Young Master Chi here today, bringing Jiang Luo with you?”
Behind him, Jiang Luo’s mother, Xiao Yan, rushed in, her expression flustered. The moment she saw Jiang Luo, tears streamed down her face. She held a handkerchief to her mouth and choked out, “Luoluo, you’ve come home.”
Jiang Pingcheng frowned and scolded her under his breath, “The guest is here—what are you crying for?”
“I’m just so happy,” Xiao Yan flinched and held back her sobs. “Luoluo finally came home. I’ve waited three days for this. I couldn’t help it… Luoluo, come, let mother take a look at you.”
Only then did Jiang Pingcheng remember—it had been three days since his son married into the Chi family.
But he had completely forgotten and hadn’t prepared anything at home.
Cold sweat formed at Jiang Pingcheng’s temples. He let out a dry laugh, saying, “Yes, your mother’s been waiting for today. But I was worried you wouldn’t come back, and she’d end up disappointed. So we didn’t prepare anything—imagine how sad she’d be if no one showed up. Besides, this whole marrying-off-a-son thing—we’ve never done it before. Your mother and I weren’t sure what to do, right? Who knew if the Chi family would even let you come home.”
After listening, Jiang Luo suddenly let out a small laugh. He didn’t respond—just lifted his cup and took a slow sip of water, leaving Jiang Pingcheng hanging awkwardly in place with no way to save face.
Jiang Pingcheng shot Jiang Luo a glare in secret. If Chi You weren’t here, he’d have already taught this increasingly bold brat a lesson.
Chi You said slowly, “Father-in-law truly cares for Luoluo.”
Pfft—Jiang Luo spat out his tea.
Luoluo? What kind of nickname was that?
The embarrassment made his scalp tingle. Chi You, ever so considerate, handed him a handkerchief, his concern looking utterly sincere. “Be careful. Wipe off the water.”
Jiang Luo took the handkerchief and dabbed at his lips, his sidelong glance at Chi You laced with suspicion. Chi You turned his head slightly, the corner of his lips lifting in the faintest smirk.
Jiang Luo narrowed his eyes. Heh, this guy did it on purpose.
Jiang Pingcheng found Chi You’s phrasing a bit odd, but the tone and expression were perfectly natural. He dismissed the strangeness and launched into a conversation with Chi You, talking at length.
Xiao Yan moved to Jiang Luo’s side. She examined him carefully, her eyes growing hot again. Remembering her husband’s warning just in time, she held back her tears and gently hugged him. “Luoluo, it’s all my fault. I couldn’t persuade your father not to marry you off to the Chi family. But now that it’s done, there’s nothing we can do. From now on, you mustn’t lose your temper. Be good to Young Master Chi. Do whatever he says—be obedient and accommodating. Life will be easier that way.”
Jiang Luo pushed her away. “Has your life been easy then?”
Xiao Yan froze. Jiang Luo smiled and muttered to himself, “Forget it. No need to say anything. Of course you think this kind of life is easy.”
Jiang Pingcheng, meanwhile, was still complaining to Chi You about the household’s expenses, subtly hinting that he wanted money.
Chi You replied good-naturedly, “We’ve brought a whole carriage of gifts with us today. If Father-in-law has time, he can have someone go move them in.”
Jiang Pingcheng was overjoyed and exchanged a few more words with Chi You before hastily leaving the reception hall.
Xiao Yan hesitated for a moment as she watched him go, then hurried after him.
The reception hall was briefly left with only Jiang Luo and Chi You.
“Other people host guests—our family throws them aside and walks off.” Jiang Luo gave a cold laugh and turned to Chi You. “This is the fine tradition of the Jiang family. Sorry you had to see it.”
Chi You chuckled. “Why don’t you show me around the Jiang residence?”
Jiang Luo rose to his feet. “Come on, then.”
In truth, Jiang Luo had never been to this Jiang residence in the mirror world either.
He led Chi You through the grounds, pausing here and there as he looked around the Jiang estate himself. But there wasn’t much worth seeing. The Jiang family was nothing like the Chi family. Even in Jiang Luo’s original world, his father was wealthier than average but only rich enough to hire a nanny—not remotely comparable to the Chi family, one of the six great families in the metaphysical world.
The metaphysical world was small, but it was practically a goldmine. Just one task from the Heavenly Masters’ Hall paid an outrageous sum. Even students at Baihua University received substantial bonuses after completing state-assigned missions. Jiang Luo’s talismans could sell for hundreds of thousands, and ever since he’d given the director of Next Stop, Idol a life-preserving talisman for free, the man had been promoting him non-stop. His talismans really worked too, which led to his name spreading in hushed circles, and his charms becoming so sought after they were almost priceless.
Once you’d seen enough money, it stopped meaning much. The father figure who had once loomed over his memories like a shadow now seemed nothing but a joke.
Jiang Luo led Chi You all the way to “his” own room.
On the way, as they passed by Jiang Pingcheng’s residence, his door wasn’t fully closed, and conversation could be heard from within.
Jiang Pingcheng’s ingratiating voice said, “Xiaqin, look at this—this is the finest fabric sent by the Chi family. The color suits you so well. The moment I saw it, I brought it over for you.”
The woman replied, “Thank you, Master.”
Jiang Luo’s footsteps paused. In the next instant, he changed direction and headed straight toward Jiang Pingcheng’s room.
Chi You silently followed behind him.
The door wasn’t shut—only a crack about two fingers wide remained. Jiang Luo stood at the threshold and looked through the gap.
Jiang Pingcheng stood by the table, his back facing Jiang Luo. He was placing the fabric on the table, boasting endlessly. Across from him, directly facing Jiang Luo, sat a young and beautiful woman with a faint smile on her lips.
She had already noticed Jiang Luo.
Jiang Luo did not dodge. He locked eyes with her across Jiang Pingcheng’s back.
The woman suddenly smiled. She stood up gently, walked over to Jiang Pingcheng, and began undoing the frog buttons on her qipao. Leaning close, she kissed his cheek, sweetly perfumed, and whispered, “Master, let me serve you today.”
Jiang Pingcheng was visibly tempted but hesitated. “The young master from the Chi family is still in the parlor…”
The woman’s eyes remained on Jiang Luo as her fingers trailed slowly down Jiang Pingcheng’s cheek. “Leave that to the madam.”
Her gaze brimmed with seduction, her expression glowing. The qipao slipped off her shoulders, revealing pale skin and a glimpse of her chest through the crimson silk.
Jiang Pingcheng, intoxicated and excited, said, “My little darling, why are you so eager today?”
Xiaqin stared straight at the young master standing outside the door, expressionless. Though they weren’t far apart, the moment stretched endlessly, the distance somehow expanding and collapsing all at once.
She kissed Jiang Pingcheng on the eyelid and deliberately let out a breathy moan.
“Master…”
This scene slowly overlapped with a memory in Jiang Luo’s mind.
He had just turned fifteen that year, coming home from school in the golden noon light.
The house was dark inside—the hallway dim from the entrance onward. As he passed by his father’s room, he heard the harsh breathing of a man and the syrupy moans of a woman.
Jiang Luo, mature beyond his years, knew exactly what it meant. Calmly, he averted his eyes—until he noticed the door wasn’t fully closed. It had been deliberately left ajar, enough for anyone to see inside.
He looked up—and met Xiaqin’s eyes.
She laid on his father’s bed. Her face was damp with sweat, her gaze fixed unwaveringly on Jiang Luo. Under his gaze, her beautiful body pressed harder against his father.
Fair thighs dangled off the bed, rocking with a rhythm that produced nauseating creaks.
Jiang Luo’s pupils contracted.
For two years, Xiaqin had been like an older sister to him—shielding him again and again from his father’s beatings. Aside from his mother, she had been the second person he trusted, the one he once thought was the kindest woman in the world.
Right before his eyes, she had an affair with his father.
…
Jiang Luo turned and walked away.
Xiaqin watched his figure shrink into a black dot, then draped her fair, soft arms around Jiang Pingcheng’s shoulders in a daze.
Jiang Pingcheng inhaled deeply at her chest, infatuated. “Xiaqin, what day is it today? You even put on makeup, wore perfume, and a new qipao. You’re so beautiful today, I can’t look away.”
Xiaqin lowered her eyes, withdrawing her gaze. She softly murmured, “Does Master like it?”
“I do, I love it!”
“I’m glad,” Xiaqin smiled, voice tender like honey. “As long as Master likes it, I’m happy.”
